The 10 Most Impactful Plays From Week 1
3. Danielle Hunter, Mariota Hunted
Win Probability Added: +19.65
NEP: +7.66
Most people on the planet knew that, when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down with a season-ending knee injury this preseason, the Minnesota Vikings’ offense was going to suffer. Not as many people likely realized, however, that the best source of offense for the Vikings was going to be their defense. That was the winning approach in Minnesota’s first game of the season, and budding sack artist defensive end Danielle Hunter decided to make his mark as one of the team’s better scorers.
Facing the Tennessee Titans and their imposing one-two punch at running back, the Vikings knew they would have to force the ball-control offense into making mistakes. That’s just what happened in the fourth quarter of the game. After pressuring the Titans on play after play, young quarterback Marcus Mariota lost focus on a botched read-option play. Hunter was playing the quarterback on the option, scooped the drop, and high-stepped into the end zone for a 24-yard fumble return touchdown. Put that man on offense and Minnesota may just have a shot.
